1 U.S.C. § 106 — Printing bills and joint resolutions

This section describes the steps for printing and signing a bill or joint resolution as it moves through Congress. The engrossed bill: When a bill or joint resolution passes in one house of Congress, that house must have it printed. This printed copy is called the "engrossed" bill or resolution. It must be signed by the Clerk of the House (if passed there) or the Secretary of the Senate (if passed there), and sent to the other house. That other house then deals with it in that printed, signed form, using its own officers. If it passes there too, it is sent back signed by that Clerk or Secretary. The enrolled bill: Once a bill or joint resolution has passed both houses, it is printed again. This version is called the "enrolled" bill or resolution. It must be signed by the presiding officers of both houses, and then sent to the President of the United States. Exception near the end of a session: During the last six days of a session of Congress, this engrossing and enrolling may be done in a different way than described above — but only if Congress orders it by a concurrent resolution.